Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-09-10
CORRESPONDENCE
TRIP TO THE NORTHWEST

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH, Aug. 30, 1887.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
Presuming it not out Of place to send
the JOURNAL this letter, giving mar
rative of my trip since | left the me
tropolis," here it is
The first run was made in one hour
the most uncomfortable ride on my
journey--to the city of railroads, canals
and natural gas. Cumberland, viewed
from all practical standpoints, is not
such a bad town, although its popula-
ton consists principally of lawyers,
editors aud politicians. 1t is terrible
thing, however, to wait for train in
the Queen City," especially when the
words, "Go West" are ringing in your
ears. And when you are troubled with
an overcoat and umbrella, with the
thermometer in the nineties, Cumber-
land might answer the requirements of
It's inhabitants, but it was never in
tended for q summer resort, although
often termed the mountain city," or
the Georges Creek coal region"
At last the train pulled in Quite
a number of passengers alighted and
took dinner at the Queen City hotel
some of them eating at the table, while
others rushed out with a chicken or
slice of watermelon in their hands.
One good-looking man who apparently
was fond Of eggs, and not accustomed
to travelling, concealed two ''soft -boils"
in his pocket, thinking they would
make a good supper for him. Just
then "all aboard I" resounded every
where, and in q few minutes the train
pulled out" and l found | was going
West. We got as far as Ellerslie when
the passengers We're startled by a loud
report. / asked the conductor what
was wrong?' He said :'the train had
gone over some torpedoes." He pulled
the rope the train stopped; the search
was begun. Quite number Of fright
ened passengers thought of the Chats
worth horror. when suddenly voice
cried out Great heavens, I've sot on
my eggs ~ All fear was then dispell-
ed, the incident causing considerable
laughter and serving as merriment to
all the passengers. The train went on,
passing a number of small villages,
dead trees among living wilds, numer-
Gus telegraph poles resembling those
in the metropolis. Suddenly found
III SCll III utlCi Nttll PloCCo LIZ
hand on my purse, not realizing my
situation and being unnerved by the
explosion of eggs, | began to think l
was on Jules Verne's tourney to the
centre of the earth," and that [ might
emerge on u raft propelled by vol
canic eruption, instead of steam power
ard find myself in China, Sicily or
Egypt. Recovering, | said-in the
whispering gallery-"this must be
Sandpatch tunnel ?" l found was
right. Nothing of Importance was
passed save few mountains, such as
Dams or Savage, until we reached the
coke regions. The sun having gone
below the horizon darkness afforded
me magnificent view of the miles of
ovens, the factories, and mills of Nc
Keesport, then the Edgar Thompson
steel works at Braddock, presenting
beautiful sight.
At last we reached Pittsburg, where
| "took inn the ruins of the large fire
and then retired after convincing my
self that the result was too big for even
Bill Williams.
spent few days and fewer dol
lars in the "city of natural gas" 1t is
no longer. called the 'smoky city,"
unless referred to in smoking topics,
but is now the "city of natural gas"
the quantity being the same as in
Cumberland, while the quality is far
superior. 1t is used as light and fuel
there; in Cumberland it Is all political
or editorial gas, hence the inference.
| ''palnted the town red )" met several
Frostburg boys, and after paying my
hotel bill received telegram "to de-
part without delay for Grand Rapids"
which l did, wondering if some one
had died and left a legacy, or if the
Salvation Army was IN some difficulty
there. l didn't study over the matter
very much, but felt it was for "weal or
woe," rather inclined to think it was
the latter. having ''been there before"
The route from Pittsburg to this
place over the Grand Rapids and In
diana railroad is a pleasant, though